Install Home Security Systems to Deter Burglars
Surveillance Cameras and Sensors Guard against Residential Break-Ins
Jan 12, 2009
Home security systems work best when comprised of several components: security cameras, sound-attenuation monitors, and motion detectors that both detect intruders inside the home and turn on spotlights outside.
Video Surveillance Cameras Capture the Action
Video surveillance cameras can be mounted in strategic exterior locations or inside the home. They can be obvious, hidden, or even designed to look like other common everyday objects. For example, security cameras inside the home can be designed to fit into lamps, boom boxes, etc.
Wired or wireless surveillance, that is the question. Wireless devices have taken great strides in emerging technology over the past decade. This comes to bad news for the cinema-stereotype cat burglar who sneaks up in the dead of night to snip video transmission wires.
Two good situations in which not to use wired circuits: first, to eliminate a clue as to where the camera is, and secondly, when the camera is located remotely.
Install Sound-Attenuation Monitors
Sound-attenuation monitors are “smart devices”, being designed to distinguish between sounds such as central air conditioner cycling, and alert on sounds like breaking glass. Why? Consider when the homeowners are out of the home.
Assume the sliding glass patio door is set up with the standard sensor that trips when the door opens. The sensor is “dumb” to the intruder who shatters the glass and simply steps through the opening.
Motion Detectors Stop Them in their Tracks
The name says it all; when activated, a security motion sensor detects movement in or outside the home. When installed inside the home, it remains in a passive mode while waiting for movement. When motion is detected, an alarm sounds, a security service and police are notified, or both.
Motion sensors may also be installed outdoors and hooked up to spotlights for security purposes or even to activate exterior landscape lighting to help the returning homeowner navigate the walkway from the garage to the front door.
How Home-Security Systems Communicate with a Monitoring Service
Although it is possible for the homeowner to install an ad hoc intruder detection and alarm system, this will only help when he or she is home to monitor the alarm. Competent crooks will wait for the home to be vacant before attacking.
And although a surveillance camera may capture the crime and record it on a PC hard drive, the damage is done.
The answer is to hire a home security monitoring company to install the system and monitor it 24/7. Depending on locale, home invasion alerts can either go to the service via a telephone line or directly to the police or fire department.
The bottom line is that the homeowner must be proactive in setting up home security. Remember, regardless of what the anti-gun lobby says, police do not prevent crime, they are the first responders after the crime has been committed.
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